do not try to correct the two legged cattles with Gunas or virtues

द्विचरणपशुषु भ्रातर्मा दर्शय गुणानेतान्।

पशवोऽन्ये गुणसाध्याः खादन्त्येते गुणान्येव॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ३०१७४२२९ कवितामृतकूपे

dvicaraṇapaśuṣu bhrātarmā darśaya guṇānetān|

paśavo'nye guṇasādhyāḥ khādantyete guṇānyeva||

indiśce sprūce 3017(4229) kavitāmṛtakūpe

This advice from Kavitaamrutha koopam could be understood and appreciated only if we understand that the गुण is used or applied with two meanings, in different context. Guna means the good qualities, merits, advantages etc. Guna means a thick rope that could tie and pack things tightly ( Maybe rope is called Guna because of its utilitarian value.. )

Here, the poet tells the earnest reader that it is a futile attempt to try to convince by bestowing great attention and generosity, and by trying to inclucate good qualities and correct the path of a wayward man who is not much better than a cattle with two legs. Gunas or ropes would work better with other beings in the category of cattles. Cattles other than the two-legged ones could be tied and kept in control using the Gunas or ropes. But men, who happen to be not much better than cattle, if you try to restrain and discipline with the rope of great virtues and qualities, they will just gnaw at the controls, break them and return to their indisciplined ways.

Oh brother, do not try to correct the two legged cattles with Gunas or virtues. They will resisist control and break the rules. Gunas or ropes would work effectively on other cattle with four legs.

Of course the statement is bitterly sarcastic. But cannot disagree entirely.

K V ANANTHANARAYANAN

भ्रात brother द्वि two चरण feet पशुषु cattle ( to cattle with two feet, men) एतान् these गुणान् virtues, good habits मा do not दर्शय show अन्ये other पशवः cattle गुण by virtues, by ropes in the case of cattles… गुण in Sanskrit means good virtue, good conduct and it also means a thick rope that would tie cattles etc. साध्याः capable of being controlled, capable of being put in place, capable of being satisfied एते (द्विचरण पशवः) these two legged cattle गुणानि एव even the ropes खादन्ति would gnaw like a rat and destroy it.